Penny Estelle Is Back!

My dear friend and fellow author Penny Estelle is back with her exciting middle grade time travel series. Bumped Back In Time, part of her Wickware Saga, is the fourth book and will release from Muse It Up Publishing September 27th. Here's Penny to tell us a bit about her newest book!

Good morning, Kat, and let me say how much I appreciate you letting me barge onto your blog today to talk about Bumped Back In Time.

Miss Wickware is a 7/8th grade history teacher at Langdon Middle School whom, some say, can make unexplainable, weird, magical things happen.  Rumor has it that certain students have actually experienced time travel, finding themselves, nose to nose, with the subject they had drawn from a box during class.  They were expected to do research on said subject and then present an oral report.  There is no proof but there are stories of William Tell, Sybil Ludington, and Molly Pitcher, being a few of the historical heroes that have been involved in this, so-called, time travel.

Sammy Brown, winner of the first junior sailing regatta for kids, ages twelve to fourteen, is about to become a member of the above, elite group.  When she ends up in the nineteenth century, it's her expertise with a sailboat that enables her and one of the most famous poets in American history, to rescue a Doctor being held prisoner, and lands her square in the middle of a famous American battle.

Bumped Back In Time is Book 4 in the Wickware Sagas and is to be released on September 27.  If you preorder, there is a 20% discount.  You can check out all four books of the Wickware Sagas at: 

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82

Excerpt from Bumbped Back In Time

A full moon lit up the bedroom.  Sammy lay on the feather mattress in the dark, staring at the ceiling.  The window was wide open, a breeze stirring the curtains, though it did nothing to take away the mugginess of the night air.  The nightgown Sarah had given Sammy was drenched with sweat and it stuck to her like a second skin.

She got up and walked to the balcony.  Dr. Beanes had been right about his wife.  Sarah had sat Sammy down and got her a bowl of left over wild turkey and boiled sweet potatoes, which she inhaled.

The older woman tisked her tongue and her head shook in sympathy, distressed at the poor girl’s story.  “Your mother must be worried beyond belief,” Sarah said.

“Oh, I’m sure she’s freaking out all over the place,” Sammy snorted.  “And like she’ll ever buy this story!”

“I don’t understand.  You write stories to sell to your freakish mother?”

Sammy had to chuckle at that one. “No.  She’s just going to kill me.”

Outraged, the woman came to her feet.  “She will do no such thing.  William will make sure that you are safe!”

Staring into the night, Sammy smiled at the memory.  She had assured Sarah it was only a saying, but the woman did not seem convinced.

The sound of horses, riding up to the Beane home, brought Sammy out of her reverie.  At least ten men, all in red coats, jumped off their horses and headed toward the house.                              

A serving girl tapped on Sammy’s door before opening it.  “Please ma’am, Mistress Beane would like you to come to her room, quickly.”  She turned to lead the way without waiting for a reply, Sammy, hurrying to catch up.

The scene that greeted Sammy when the bedroom opened had the hairs on the back of her neck, not only standing straight out at attention, but screaming “run…hide…wake up!”  Goose bumps broke out on her sweaty body.

Dr. Beane was sitting on a chair putting on his shoes while Sarah was wringing her hands and pale as the snow-white nightgown she was wearing.

Before Sammy could utter a word a BANG BANG BANG came from the door downstairs and that’s when all hell broke loose!

Thanks to all who took the time to stop by today.  I would like to offer one of the first three books of the Wickware Sagas to one commenter.  Billy Cooper’s Awesome Nightmare, Ride of a Lifetime, or Flash to the Past, in whichever format you would prefer.

More about myself and my books can be found at:

www.pennystales.com

www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

I have read the first three in this series and it is sensational. It also gives us a unique view of historical events. Bumped Back In Time releases September 27th but is available right now for pre-order so get your copy. It's the perfect time for this as it is back to school month!

Cover Reveal

Woohoo! I have been waiting to be able to reveal this cover. The extremely talented Suzi Safi designed this cover and it ROCKS! Seeker, book 2 in my Hekate's Web series will be releasing from Muse It Up Publishing in November. Here's the stunning cover.

Summer Bash: BONUS

Bet you all thought the summer bash was over.:-) Well I have a single bonus for you. As the final gasp of summer hits, my dear friend Kay Dee Royal has stopped by to help us all say goodbye to it. Hi Kay Dee. Glad to have you.

Hi everyone;) Hello Kat, *hugs* thank you so much for having me today and allowing me to vent a little about one of my story-stars in Savage Smoke. Well, he was also in Staring Into the Eyes of Chance as that is book 1 in my Lycan International Investigation Series.

Smoke is a culprit, the villain, the notorious, dangerous rogue of all rogues. A fall off a cliff left him with an open sunken cheek (shows a few of his teeth) and a milky blind eye. It definitely gives the impression he’s a bad-ass, even though on the short side in stature (runt of the litter), his wild appearance and muscularly buff bod keeps larger opponents at bay.

He comes from a paranormal dysfunctional family…or so it is to him. Smoke isn’t his real name, but it works for him since his brother, Chance, the Alpha leader of the LIIA headquarters in Upper Michigan, constantly tracks him and his rogue pack.

Smoke plans a major take-over. He’s had his fill of the Elders creating rules and over-seeing who lives and who dies. It’s time for a new league of justice or injustice…and he’ll do anything to get what he wants. Even if it means kidnapping, impregnating, slaughtering, drugging, or anything else required in making it happen.

I had him dead to rights…seriously, dying in book 2 (Savage Smoke). I played hell writing the last chapters because his lights were out for good…but, he kept kicking and yelling, insisting he should get the chance of redemption, AND he demanded something else, too. Something he never had before…and it was his due to claim it.

Well, after much deliberation and rewrites…and suckin’ it up–he lives. Got his dang wish come true, too…but you’ll have to read it to find out what that part of the equation isJ *Big deep sigh*

Yes, so Smoke lives on for book 3, Smoke ‘n Bliss. Do you think it’s possible for the worst of the worst to redeem himself?

Savage Smoke – Book 2 Lycan International Investigation Agency Series

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Sizzling HOT! Warning: Lots of two-somes, three-somes, even more-somes, like it stimulating, arousing, and positively natural…or supernatural.

Tagline: Will Trevor rescue Lindsey in time to save her from shifting into Smoke’s pack, and will she even want saved?

Blurb:

Chance and his LIIA pack of agents search for rogue Lycan mastermind, Smoke, kidnapper of Lindsey and fifteen other human women he plans to use for procreating his own army.

Trevor, Chance’s right-hand Lycan, wants his mate back, but believes she’s fallen for her captor. Lindsey loves Trevor but believes he’s given up on her.

Will Trevor come around in time to rescue Lindsey and save her from shifting into Smoke’s pack, and will she even want back with Trevor after spending so long apart?

Amazon; Muse It Up Publishing Store

Staring Into the Eyes of Chance – Book 1 Lycan International Investigation Agency Series

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Sizzling HOT! Warning: Wild and lust-filled love scenes, extra stimulating, arousing, and positively natural…or supernatural.

Tagline: Olivia swears off men until she meets Chance, a Lycan alpha. He ignites an undeniable hunger they can only sate together.

Blurb:

Olivia endures a thirty-four year passionless marriage, discovering her dead husband’s philandering history at his funeral. She devotes her energy and life-long sensitivity with animals to her wildlife refuge and preserve.

Chance, a Lycan alpha and leader of the Lycan International Investigation Agency (LIIA) throws himself into his investigations. He chooses to neglect his duty of finding a primal-mate after watching his father become an empty shell over the loss of his.

A murderous rogue pack draws Chance onto Olivia’s wildlife preserve, sending Olivia’s animal sensitivities into overdrive. Chance and Olivia discover a sizzling force driving them together.

Will they succumb to its enticing tether, or fight to resume their loveless lives apart?

Amazon; Muse It Up Publishing Store

Kay Dee Royal Bio:

Kay Dee Royal writes paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary erotic romance—maybe because it's also her favorite genres to read! She pens tales with wild, rugged heroes and strong, intelligent heroines. She'll give them both a few shadowy secrets, making her stories intriguing and fun. She resides in Southern Michigan with her family (her dog, her cats, her caged husband... you get the idea). You can find the latest on her titles from her publisher, MuseItHot.

Links:

Website; FB; Twitter; GoodReads; Muse It Up Publishing; Amazon Author Page

Blogs: http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.com; http://ravencraftrealm.blogspot.com

Another great N.J. Walters release!

Coming October 8, 2013 from Samhain Publishing, Howl of the Wolf, book four in my dear friend, N.J. Walters Hades Carnival series. This woman knows how to weave great stories and I have never read a book I didn't like by her. Check out the blurb below for her upcoming release.

When artist and tarot reader Sabrina Wolfe runs across an old carousel wolf in an antique shop, she can’t resist buying the compelling symbol of her totem animal, her protector. But she isn’t prepared when the wooden animal comes to fang-flashing life—and shifts into a darkly sexy man.

Arand is the last of seven immortal warriors sworn to protect the Lady of the Beasts. Freed by Sabrina’s touch, their instant physical attraction is hot, intense—yet neither is safe until twenty-four hours have passed and the curse is truly broken.

Hades plans to use every one of those hours to unleash his last effort to control the world—or see both the warrior and his woman dead. Though help comes from unexpected quarters, Arand and Sabrina alone risk paying the ultimate price for victory. Their lives…and their very souls.

To learn more about the rest of the books in this series and all her other novels, go to N.J. Walters website. And be sure to get your copy of Howl of the Wolf when it releases from Samhain Publishing.:-)

End Of Summer

Well summer is ending and so is the bash. My final guest is author Susan A. Royal. Hey Susan.:-)

One thing is certain. Writers and readers go hand in hand. I’ve yet to meet an author who doesn’t read for pleasure despite their minds being in a constant state of write-edit-read-rewrite-edit-read. I’ve even gotten to the point where I edit my emails, blog and facebook posts not once, but twice, before I hit send (and it’s a good thing sometimes)

     My daughter and I were talking the other day about the things we do (or don’t do) after a particularly stressful day at work. (the day job earning a paycheck necessary to pay the bills). She prefers to spend what little free time she manages zoning out in front of the television, and I do that occasionally. But for the most part, I find myself reading or writing. Either exercise enables me to leave my everyday world far behind and travel to places only accessible from my imagination. And if someone has given me a really difficult time, what better way to let off steam than to channel my irritation through a character in my latest WIP?

     People are always asking me where my ideas come from and how I pick my genres. To be honest, I never considered writing anything else. Even before I knew there was such a thing as science fiction or fantasy, I knew what kind of books drew me and held my attention. Whether it was a noble quest, a trip to another world, or the discovery of magic in someone’s otherwise ordinary life, it didn’t matter.

     I’ve been making up stories since I was a little girl. In fact, I still have my first “book”, complete with illustrations, written in pencil on lined notebook paper, folded and bound with a red ribbon. I believe I was six years old at the time. My grandparents were story tellers. So were my parents. I can remember evenings lying stretched out across the cool concrete in the darkness of our porch, listening to them spin tales about things that happened years earlier. Some of the stories were even passed down from their parents.

     When I wasn’t listening to stories, I haunted the library for books that held my attention. Early on I discovered Ray Bradbury, Poul Anderson, Madeline L’Engle, Andre Norton, and many others. I discovered visiting other worlds in other times was right up my alley. Those fantastic adventures took my imagination farther than I had ever dreamed it could go. They were the kind of books I hated to finish reading, the ones I wanted to go on forever.

Urban fantasy, time travel, science fiction, and paranormal stories fill my kindle and my book shelves, and that’s pretty much what I write. Remember Twilight Zone? Or Steven Spielberg’s series “Amazing Stories”? Twisty, quirky little plots, involving someone ordinary, like you or me, and how they deal with something that goes beyond their realm of reality are the kind of books I love to read. It was only natural for me to want to write the same kind of stories.

  

To me, the perfect read begins with the reader wondering “what if” and ends up with them thinking “why not”. Author Richard Matheson once said, "I think we're yearning for something beyond the every day.” As far as I’m concerned, he couldn’t have put it better. We want to push our imagination to the limit and experience the things we envision. To me, there is no better way to do this than through reading or writing. The difference between the two? When I am writing, I get to decide what the story is about, where it goes, what each character does and what happens as a result. It’s a heady feeling, and I love it!

     That brings us to the subject of characters—one of my favorite topics. Character development is fascinating. There’s nothing better than to be able to watch a character’s personality unfold during the course of the story. A reader can be privy to their strengths and weaknesses. They can relate to the way they handle their experiences. Some authors are so good at doing this they have me shedding actual tears when something happens to one of my favorite characters. That’s one of my goals as a writer.

     Maybe that’s why I find myself getting attached to the characters in my stories, especially some of the minor ones. In my first book, Not Long Ago, Arvo, the tailor’s gangly, red-headed son is a charmer with an eye for the ladies. He loves to listen to gossip and keeps Erin, a young woman who time travels from the present to a medieval society, informed of castle goings-on. Arvo also knows she’s masquerading as a boy, but keeps her secret. He even helps her sneak into the Masked Ball so she can dance with the handsome knight, Sir Griffin. In the end he turns out to be a fast friend Erin never forgets.

     Secondary characters don’t have to drive the plot, so there is a little more freedom in developing their personalities. It was not my intention for Arvo to have more than a supporting role, but he turned out to be so much fun that he’s back in the sequel, along with others. And that’s another thing. I never meant for Not Long Ago to become a series, either, but my daughter insisted the story wasn’t done and after thinking about it I agreed. So, of course I had to continue.

     The most important thing I’ve learned about the experience of becoming a published author is to never ever give up on a story. Someone once told me “There is nothing about it that can’t be fixed. You are the author, after all. You can fill the plot holes, flesh it out, expand, or condense, learn to say things better and improve.” This advice comes to mind every time I get discouraged because I’ve discovered something’s not working the way I thought it would.

     My newest book is In My Own Shadow, a fantasy this time. It came out in May. That’s two books published within a year. And I’m 80,000 words into the sequel. It’s no wonder I’m tired. But you know what? I love it all. It’s been a fantastic journey for me, along with Erin, Griffin, Arvo, Rhys, Lara, Azle and all those yet to come. After finishing this book, I plan to get lost in the sixties and visit the Texas hill country with a boy named Eli who talks to ghosts. I can’t wait!!

To find out more about Lara and Rhys:

In My Own Shadow (fantasy, adventure, romance)
http://tinyurl.com/bqbxm41
To find out more about Sir Griffin, Erin and Arvo:

Not Long Ago (time travel, adventure, romance)
http://tinyurl.com/85vgye3

Not Long Ago book trailer

http://youtu.be/vOIQVdWUigU/

Both books available at MuseItUp, Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
http://susanroyal.moonfruit.com
http://susanaroyal.wordpress.com

     You can contact me any time at: ssn(underscore)royal@hotmail.com I’d love to hear from you.

     I want to thank Kat Holmes for allowing me to guest on her blog and ramble on about two of my passion. Kat and her mother, Lin Holmes, are two wonderful ladies I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know since first signing with MuseItUp Publishing. Since then, I’ve discovered what great people fellow authors can be. 

Thank you Susan for a wonderful visit. And a huge thank you to everyone who participated in my bash. Enjoy your fall.